Reading through Stolen Land, I noticed something weird with one of the NPCs. Despite having all her levels in a PC class and the elite stat array, she didn't get full hit points for her first hit die.
She had 17 hit points from (2d10+6.) That's 5.5x2+6. She should have 21 hit points. At first, I thought it was a typo, but then, I referenced other PC class NPCs in the game, and all the ones I checked (like 6 of them,) were set up the same way.
So I was like, "Huh, maybe that's just the way Pathfinder works and I missed the memo on it. I don't like it at all, but maybe that's a line somewhere in the new RAW."
So I picked up The Bastards of Erebus, number one of the other adventure path from the PF ruleset, and you know what? It doesn't look like the NPCs are set up that way there at all? The Elite Array PC class NPCs I checked all have full hit points for their first hit die.
So.... this an experiment in doing hit points differently, or just a thing that happens because writers get to choose how hit points work in their volume?
Am I confused over something which isn't really anything?
She had 17 hit points from (2d10+6.) That's 5.5x2+6. She should have 21 hit points.
Unless I'm missing something, 5.5 + 5.5 + 6 = 17. Is there a +4 from somewhere else?
Unless I'm missing something, 5.5 + 5.5 + 6 = 17. Is there a +4 from somewhere else?
The point is she's an elite array character with PC class levels, which means if she's got, oh, say, 2 Ranger levels, she should receive 10 hit points for level one, then 5.5 for level two. 10+5.5+6=21
Elite PC class NPCs traditionally get max hit points for level 1, the same way PCs do.
The point is she's an elite array character with PC class levels, which means if she's got, oh, say, 2 Ranger levels, she should receive 10 hit points for level one, then 5.5 for level two. 10+5.5+6=21Elite PC class NPCs traditionally get max hit points for level 1, the same way PCs do.
Gotcha, it's been forever since I've stated anything up. I'll climb back under my rock now. Continue on...
Gotcha, it's been forever since I've stated anything up. I'll climb back under my rock now. Continue on...
No worries. Looking back at my post, I did state that a little awkwardly.
She still kicked my groups butt tonight. Almost killed a couple of them too.
she got shot twice, then color sprayed, severely interrogated, and executed in my game (by a shocking grasp spell, cast by someone with the gifted magic trait thing that ups a spell one level, after he had used his 'heavenly fire' celestial sorceror domain ability as a cheap detect evil spell!!)
Only PCs are supposed to get full hp at 1st level.
Core Rulebook page 454, Creating NPCs Step 7: Details, "Determine the character's total hit points by assuming the average result."
Creative Director
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Also, we don't always adhere to that. Sometimes we do purely average hit points, and sometimes we give the NPC max hit points for their first class level. And sometimes we actually assign hp that are low or high on purpose.
For the most part, average hp are the way we go for NPCs and monsters, but that can vary depending upon the encounter's needs and the author's whim and the developer's desire to adjust an encounter's difficulty. So it's absolutely not an error if hit points for a creature are not average... but it should be unusual.
Well, that's my answer, there.... I can't argue that it wasn't laid out before me in the text.
Still, I'm relatively sure that's not the way it was traditionally done in the 3.5 days. I keep thinking it was a rule that non-player characters with PC classes and the elite stat array automatically started with full hp on level one... unless I've grown forgetful in my advancing age.
If this is a change from the old way of doing things.... well, I find that the window of survival to be noteworthy and leave impressions on the players is narrow enough for named NPCs as it is.
I feel like the awesome character design artwork (and it is awesome!) in Stolen Lands is kind of wasted if the NPCs can't stay standing long enough to make an impression.
Agreed the named characters perhaps need a little bumping up Hp wise..the grunts are..well just grunts.
I find that the window of survival to be noteworthy and leave impressions on the players is narrow enough for named NPCs as it is.
I feel like the awesome character design artwork (and it is awesome!) in Stolen Lands is kind of wasted if the NPCs can't stay standing long enough to make an impression.
You know your players best. The adventures aren't written with optimized characters in mind. My players tend to be a bit tougher than expected per level, so I routinely increase the hit points of foes. The hit dice are listed for most NPCs, that gives a wide range of HP they could theoretically have. If you feel particular opponents should be more noteworthy, increase the hit points by a 1 or 2 hp per die.
Only PCs are supposed to get full hp at 1st level.
Core Rulebook page 454, Creating NPCs Step 7: Details, "Determine the character's total hit points by assuming the average result."
of course that is contradicted by the bestiary such as page 6
Creatures with PC class levels receive maximum hit points for their first HD, but all other HD rolls are assumed to be average.
and this is born out by most of the example creatures in the bestiary that have no racial HD and a PC character class (such as the aasimar cleric on page 7) although the Hobgoblin uses average even though he is a PC class (fighter).
Whoever wrote Bestiary page 6 was drunk!
*hand wave* it's the GM's best friend.